Melbourne Orlando Airport (MLB) Guide To UK Direct Flight & Transfers
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Melbourne Orlando Airport (MLB) is the home of TUI’s direct Orlando, Florida flights for Disney World and Orlando holidays from the UK for the majority of the year. The only transatlantic carrier operating direct UK flights to and from MLB, using TUI Airways lets you skip the heavy airport crowds in MCO in exchange for a quieter arrival experience. The only downside is the 75 to 90-mile transfer to Disney World.
There are however some great package deals to be found flying into this airport, so it’s an airport you need to keep in mind if you are looking for cheaper direct flights and cheaper package deals. In this guide you’ll find flight details from UK airports for the 2026/2027 season and a look at transfer options.
What Airlines Fly Direct From UK to Melbourne Orlando Airport
TUI Airways is the only airline that operates direct, non-stop flights from the UK to Melbourne International Airport (MLB), Florida. In fact, in 2026, it is the only Transatlantic carrier operating out of MLB, after relocating their entire Florida operation to this airport from Sanford (SFB) in 2022.
In 2026 and 2027 here are the UK airports TUI are flying to Melbourne from:
London Gatwick (LGW),
Manchester (MAN),
Glasgow (GLA),
Newcastle (NCL)
Belfast International (BFS)
Operates Seasonal Flights Only
It is important to note that direct flights from the UK to Melbourne International Airport are seasonal. TUI does not offer a year round flight service to Florida, but they do offer package holidays all year round. The dreamliner is TUI’s plane class flying into MLB during it’s operating season, at other times of the year if you buy a TUI package your included flight will fly into MCO with a different carrier in 2026 and 2027.
In 2026 and 2027 the service to MLB begins in March and ends mid-November. TUI stopped operating Florida flights from Birmingham at the end of 2024, with the service not resuming in 2025, 2026 or 2027 so far.
Departure Airports and Season: TUI Direct Flights to MLB 2026 / 2027
TUI flies direct to Florida from a range of UK airports on a seasonal basis:
Airport | Frequency | Dates of Seasonal Operation 2026 | Dates of Seasonal Operations 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
London Gatwick (LGW) | 2 flights a week on a Wednesday and Sunday | Begins on 29th March 2026 - 18th November 2026 for departures and 25th November 2026 for return flights. | Begins on 28th March 2027 - 24th October 2027 for departures and 31st October 2027 for return flights. |
Manchester (MAN) | 3 flights a week for most of the season on a Monday, Thursday and Friday | Begins 23rd March 2026 - 16th November 2026 for departures and 23rd November 2026 for return flights. | Begins 22nd March 2027 - 24th October 2027 and 28th October 2027 for departures |
Glasgow (GLA) | 2 flights per week all season flying on a Tuesday and Friday, 3 flights per week during June and July: flying Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday | Begins 1st May 2026 - 23rd October 2026 for departures and until 30th October 2026 for return flights. | Begins 7th May 2027 - 24th October 2027 and 29th October 2027 for return flights. |
Newcastle (NCL) | 2 flights per week during season on Tuesday and Saturday | Begins 2nd May 2026 - 24th October 2026 for departures and last return flight 31st October 2026 | Begins 1st May 2027 - 23rd October 2027 and 30th October 2027 for return flights |
Belfast International (BFS) | 8 flights between June and July | Flying between June and July 2026 on the following dates: Departures: 22nd June 2026, 29th June 2026, 6th July 2026, 13th July 2026 Return flights: 6th July 2026, 13th July 2026, 20th July 2026, 27th July 2026 | Flying between June and July 2027 on the following dates: Departures: 23rd June 2027, 30th June 2027, 7th July 2027, 14th July 2027 Return flights: 7th July 2027, 14th July 2027, 21st July 2027, 28th July 2027 |
There are no direct flights from London Heathrow (LHR) to Melbourne (MLB).
How far is Melbourne Orlando Airport to and from Disney World?
Melbourne Orlando Airport (MLB) is located approximately 70 to 75 miles southeast of Walt Disney World. Depending on traffic and your chosen route, the drive typically takes between 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes via I-95 North and FL-528 West.
Other popular locations near Disney World are located:
Destination | Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|
Walt Disney World | 75-90 mins | 72 miles |
Universal Orlando | 75 mins | 70 miles |
International Drive | 70 mins | 68 miles |
Kennedy Space Center | 35 mins | 30 miles |
Transferring to a Disney resort from Melbourne International Airport (MLB) will add time as this airport is on the coast, rather than inland like Orlando International (MCO). Melbourne International is not the closest airport to Disney resorts. If your main priority is finding the best airport to fly into for your Disney holiday take a look at Best Florida Airport to fly to for a Florida holiday.
How Do I Get From Melbourne Airport To Disney?
There are plenty of transfer options from MLB to Disney World, and they’re similar to MCO, only you will NOT find Mears Connect at MLB. There are four main options:
Transport Option | Book In The UK? | Why Choose This? |
|---|---|---|
Hire a car | Best to book before you fly for better prices | Flexibility, plenty of car hire companies to book with here in the UK. |
UBER/ LFYT | Book when you land as long as you have the app downloaded, just be sure to use the airport free wi-fi or have an eSim | Good for last minute trips |
Private transfer | Needs to be booked in advance from here in the UK | Comfort and reliability, help loading luggage in the car, they sort the car seats for younger children |
A rental car is the most popular and convenient option as it gives you the flexibility to travel on your own schedule. The drive is straightforward, typically taking I-95 North to FL-528 West (a toll road) towards Orlando.
You can easily book a rideshare, UBER or LYFT, from MLB upon arrival. The ride usually takes about an hour and a half, but depending on the time of day you can find some surge pricing.
Several private shuttle, limo, and town car services operate between the Melbourne area and Disney World. This is a great stress-free option, especially for larger families, but booking in advance before heading to Florida is necessary, just like the car hire option
How Much Do Transfers Cost From MLB?
For a round trip transfer to and from Melbourne International Airport (MLB), budget around £224.97 ($300.00) including a tip for an UBER, Lyft or a little bit more for a private hire service.
Transport Option | From MLB to Disney/Universal |
|---|---|
Uber / Lyft (Standard) | £71.24 ($95.00) - £97.49 ($130.00) |
Uber XL (Groups/Luggage) | £104.98 ($140.00) - £134.98 ($180.00) |
Private Car Service | £119.98 ($160.00) - £164.98 ($220.00) |
Shared Shuttle | Not commonly available (Private only) |
Consider using Epic Private Hire opens in a new tabfor your trip, as although we have not used them our friends and family have and cannot speak highly enough of the service they received.
If you’re looking at transfer costs and thinking you can hire a car for less, it is definitely a possibility and most UK visitors using MLB do opt for car hire as it tends to give better value and more flexibility overall.
Car Hire at Melbourne International Airport, Orlando
There are fewer car hire options at Melbourne International Airport and car hire at MLB is dominated by a few major players including: Avis, Hertz, Budget, Alamo, and Enterprise. Booking car hire before you land will help you get the best deal. Our guide to hiring a car as a UK visitor provides details about booking car hire for Florida from the UK.
Toll costs are not huge, won’t make a big dent in the budget and are not something to worry about, but for anyone tracking the costs they are something to note. You also currently can’t get a Visitor Toll Pass in MLB, it’s only an option at MCO. Paying tolls through the rental company will costa bit more but I have never found it horrendous.
To get from MLB to Orlando, you will almost certainly use the Beachline Expressway (SR 528), although you can opt for a toll free route in your maps application but this will take longer and you’ll drive further. (Sort an ESim and swap over before hopping on Google maps when you get in your hire car to avoid higher roaming charges from your UK phone service provider: I always find ESims offer better value).
You should budget roughly £7.50 ($10.00) - £11.25 ($15.00) in tolls for the round trip from MLB, compared to about £3.00 ($4.00) - £4.50 ($6.00) from MCO.
For a more in depth look at Florida tolls take a look at the UK Visitors Guide To Tolls and How To Pay Them.
Benefits of flying from Melbourne Orlando Airport
There are many reasons why UK visitors may choose to fly from Melbourne Orlando Airport:
TUI offer excellent value package deals; some of the most competitive that you can find in the UK for Disney and Universal, and you can get some good late deals too
You can fly direct to Orlando with TUI from more regional UK airports than any other airline even though the flights are seasonal. This means you may not have as far to travel in the UK and you have more options, especially in the summer months, making it an ideal choice for families.
Quiet airport experience; you’ll often get out of Melbourne and to your transfer to be on the way to your accommodation a lot faster than MCO.
If you are booking Florida and considering a split stay to explore beyond the parks, Melbourne Airport is located on the coast. This makes it an excellent choice for a few nights on the Gulf Coast, with a visit to the Kennedy Space Center thrown in. Even with the 70 mile or so drive to Disney World, this is a good option if you can get your holiday cheaper or tailored more to your needs.
Downsides of flying from Melbourne Orlando Airport
There are some realities of flying to and from Melbourne that mean it may not be the best choice for everyone:
Transfer distances are off-putting and you may need a hire car to get value
Hire cars have fewer options and you don’t have access to Visitor Toll Pass, which can make paying tolls slightly more costly.
No UK airline flies direct from Heathrow to Melbourne, Florida, so if you want to fly from London Heathrow, this won’t work for your trip.
Melbourne International Airport offers a quieter experience, and is the home of TUI flights direct from the UK. Don’t let longer transfer times to Disney World and Universal put you off using this airport.
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How close is Melbourne to Disney World?
Melbourne Orlando Airport (MLB) is located approximately 70 to 75 miles southeast of Walt Disney World. Depending on traffic and your chosen route, the drive typically takes between 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes via I-95 North and FL-528 West.
What is the airport code for Melbourne Airport, Orlando?
The code is MLB for Melbourne Airport in Orlando
How do I get from Melbourne airport to Disney?
You have three main options to get to Disney from MLB: hire a car, use an UBER or LYFT, book a private hire vehicle. No matter what you choose, it will take around an hour to an hour and a half to make the 70 mile journey.
Which UK airlines fly direct into Melbourne International Airport (MLB)?
Only TUI offer direct flights into MLB from the UK, as this is the airlines hub in Florida and has been since 2022. But keep in mind flights are seasonal and direct flights to MLB from the UK are not offered all year round in 2026 and 2027.
